Sevilla fear Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United could meet defender Jules Kounde’s release clause when the January transfer market opens.

The Red Devils were among the clubs considering a move for the Frenchman during the summer but that interest faded once they shifted focus to then-Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane.

In spite of the arrival of the World Cup winner, United have struggled at the back with skipper Harry Maguire in a woeful stint of form.

According to AS, the Old Trafford outfit are still monitoring the player with there now a concern at Los Nervionenses that the Premier League giants could return with a proposal in the New Year.

The 22-year-old has a buy-out clause of €80 million in his contract which the English side could choose to activate. Chelsea were poised to land Kounde last summer but balked at the asking price, refusing to go above €50 million.

Kounde was believed to have been furious that the transfer to Stamford Bridge never transpired but have remained an important figure for the side this term, starting and completing all but two of their 12 top-flight games.

The report goes on to state that Sevilla have accepted it’ll be ‘almost impossible’ to keep him the club beyond this season.